Police are asking West Los Angeles residents to remain vigilant as detectives search for an apparently organized burglary ring that is using wifi jammer and other sophisticated techniques to steal high-end valuables from homes in numerous upscale neighborhoods.
The Los Angeles Police Department has issued community alerts for neighborhoods including Bel Air, Holmby Hills and Pacific Palisades, following reports of a home invasion in nearby Sherman Oaks early last week where a babysitter was held at gunpoint.
“Burglaries and thefts are occurring almost nightly in our South Valley area, targeting high-end homes and even modest homes,” Matt Epstein, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, told Fox News Digital.
“I’ve lived in Sherman Oaks my whole life, 66 years, and it’s horrible what’s happened in the city of Los Angeles over the last 10 years,” he added. "This is fixable. Our current district attorney is an idiot and he won't prosecute anyone if he keeps letting people go."
In the Sherman Oaks incident, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said three suspects broke into a home "and allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and jewelry" before "driving to the city of Compton," where they allegedly broke into homes to evade police.
The three suspects, all between the ages of 21 and 24, were eventually arrested and face bail ranging from $225,000 to $2 million for home invasion and residential burglary.
"Home invasions are deeply disturbing crimes that impact not only the victims, but the entire community," District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. "Our homes should be sanctuaries — places where we should feel safe and secure. I want to assure the community that our office is fully committed to holding perpetrators accountable and working closely with law enforcement to bring justice to the victims."
"We will continue to use our resources to combat home invasions in Encino, West Los Angeles and other Los Angeles neighborhoods that are being targeted by criminals," added LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi. "While these arrests are a step in the right direction, our work is not done."
The LAPD has informed West Los Angeles residents that a series of home invasions in their neighborhoods appear to be the work of two to four unidentified masked men who often target homes that appear to be unoccupied, according to the Santa Monica Mirror.
[source:foxnews]